cell.

Jenna’s back slammed into the cell door, and she fell to the ground silent.

She didn’t move.

Balto’s breathing steadied, and gradually, he floated back to the surface, burying that wolf instinct deep within him once again.

“Oh no…” Balto thought. “I… I did it…”

He walked over to her, and looked at her.

She was still breathing.

Balto opened his jaws, and prepared to do the only thing that would save Jenna’s life, but Jenna’s eyes snapped open, and she growled as she hit him knocking him away from her.

She stood up.

“Help!” She screamed. “Help me!”

One of the demon wolves materialized within the cell, and another opened the door, letting Jenna out.

The demon glared at Balto, and then turned, stepping through the door, as the other one closed it behind him.

Balto laid his head on his paws and cried.

“Balto?”

He opened his eyes to see Jenna roll over and sit up.

“Jen!” He said. “I’m so glad you’re okay, I… I thought I’d lost you.”

She tried to smile, but started coughing, and wound up throwing up some more of the shiny blue material.

“I… I don’t… don’t feel too…”

Jenna fell on her side.

“JENNA!” Balto yelled, as he ran to her side.

“Are you okay?” Balto asked.

“I… I don’t think I can walk.” Jenna said.

“What are we going to do?” Balto asked. “I’ve got to save you, I’ve got to.”

Jenna smiled.

“Balto…. maybe…. maybe it’s just my time.”

“No.” Balto said suddenly.

‘Balto…”

“No Jenna, I lost you once, I won’t do it again, won’t go through that again.”

“Balto… it’s… it’s natural, it’s the way of things.”

“Not for you it’s not.” Balto said.

He sighed.

“I love you too much to say goodbye.”

Jenna smiled.

“I… I can’t live forever Balto.”

“I know…” Balto said. “… but you’ve hardly been with me forever… I’m… I’m just not ready.”

Jenna smiled again.

“Would you ever be Balto?”

Balto sighed.

“No, no I guess I wouldn’t…”

He looked down at her.

“… but I’m really not right now.”

Balto turned away from her, as he continued.

“I mean, we have to grow together, to see our kids find mates of their own, to see all our grandkids…”

As Balto continued, he didn’t notice Jenna’s head slide to the floor.

“… and… and maybe even our great grandkids, and we’ve got to see Kodi run that Iditarod with Junior and Jill, and you’ve still got to ride in a plane… with… me…”

Balto looked down.

“Oh no…” he said, tears coming to his eyes.

“Jenna?”

He nuzzled her…

Nothing.

“Jenna!”

Balto feared the worst, until he saw her chest rise and fall.

“She’s alive…” Balto said quietly.

“I… I love you so much Jenna,” he said, as he laid down beside her.

“I… I don’t’ want to say goodbye…. ever.’

Soon he was fast asleep.

Jenna once again sat in the chamber with Steele, staring into the fireplace.

“So you thought it over hm?” Steele said with a chuckle.

“Or did Balto think it over for you? You look a little beat up.”

Jenna felt a tear run down her face, and drip to the floor.

‘He… he tried to kill me.” Jenna said.

“Did he now?” Steele said, “hmm, I wonder who it was that said that’s what would happen, and I wonder who didn’t believe him…”

“I’m sorry Steele.” Jenna said, walking up beside him. “I… I was scared, I…”

She stopped and nuzzled him.

“You can’t send me back in there, he’ll… he’ll kill me.”

Steele smiled.

“Well, I’m sure there’s an arrangement that pleases both of us…”

Jenna nodded.

“Of course.”

Steele smiled again.

‘Why don’t you tour your new home Jenna, and I’ll follow shortly.”

Jenna nodded, and walked out of the room.

Steele waited until she was gone, and then he laughed.

It wasn’t a happy laugh, but an evil, cackle that filled the room.

“I’ve done it Balto, you’ve given her to me at last, and in so doing have doomed your Jenna to death.”

He laughed again.

“Nothing can save her now.”

He turned to one of the white dogs by the corner.

“You, Selphie, go with her, make sure she’s not going to double cross me.”

The dog nodded, and stepped forward.

“And if she does?”

Steele smiled.

“Kill her.”

The dog returned his smile.

“As you command.”

Then she vanished in a flash of red light.

Steele started to walk from the room, then stopped and turned.

“It’s only a matter of time now Balto… only a matter of time…”

Chapter 10

The following morning, Balto was woken up by Mia.

“They’re wanting us outside.”

“What?” Balto asked.

“All of us, our captor finally wants to show his face.”

Balto nodded and stood up.

“How are you Balto?”

He turned.

“Jenna!”

He ran over to her.

“How are you?!” He asked. ‘You’re standing, you must be better!”

“Slightly.” She responded.

Balto looked at the cell door as it swung open.

“If you will follow me.” The demon guard said, as he turned and walked down the hall.

‘Help me…” Jenna said.

Balto let her lean on his shoulder, and the two walked out of the cell, followed by Aazule and Mia.

The four dogs were standing under an overhang of sorts on the front of the Fortress.

"What do you think our captor has planned for us?" Aazule asked.

"Maybe he wants to let us go." Mia said.

Balto sighed.

"Somehow I doubt it."

He looked beside him where Jenna stood.

He sighed again.

Jenna could hardly stand now, and only stood now because she was leaning on him..

The once bright blue aura that surrounded her had dulled significantly.

He was very worried about her.

"Hello Balto."

The voice startled him, and Balto quickly turned.

"Jenna?"

She sighed.

"How are you?"

Balto's expression turned from one of surprise to one of anger.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled.

"He said he'd protect me." she said.

"He who?!" Balto screamed back.

"He me."

Balto turned again as the black and white dog stepped out from the inside of the fortress.

"Steele." Balto said.

Steele laughed.

"Yes, quite the unexpected rendeveuz."

"How." Balto stated flatly.

Steele laughed again.

"It was no easy task, I promise you that."

"How." Balto replied.

Steele laughed again.

"Let me tell you a little story Balto."

He paused.

"I was burning in the pits of hell, all that thanks to Jenna there, when I suddenly realized something..."

He smiled.

The guardians were there to keep me there. When I realized this, I realized I could escape, so I talked one of the guardians, Shaulaaine into joining me, and I did. He followed me, and since I liberated him from that firey cesspit, he stayed with me. I emerged from hell just in time to find your sweet Jenna's soul here, on the island. Why I have yet to find out, as she wasn't very talkitive, but it doesn't t really matter now does it?"

He looked at Jenna.

"Did you enjoy our time together?"

He laughed.

"You probably haven't told wolfie here about our first night together, have you?"

Balto looked down at Jenna.

"Jen?"

"Balto I wanted to, but..."

She sighed and hung her head.

Balto jerked his gaze back to Steele.

"I'm gonna kill you!"

Stelle laughed again.

"So wolf dog, tell me, tell me this, how are you going to kill something that's already dead?"
Balto glared at him.

"I'll find a way..."

"Ha ha." Steele replied. "I will enjoy watching you try."

A deep rumbling was heard, and the three headed beast that had taken Jenna away from him when they'd arrived on this island, ran up to Steele's side.

"Wolf dog, meet Shaulaaine." Steele said.

Balto turned to the others beside him.

"Stop wolf dog." Steele said smiling. "I know you better than you know yourself, and running won't help you, however, just in case you try..."

A snap of energy was heard, and Balto suddenly felt something very sharp against his throat.

It was one of the guard demon's tails

Each of the dogs had one behind them, and they all found themselves in a similar